DPPs Working Together to Combat Criminality in the Region

Directors of Public Prosecutions (DPPs) from the Caribbean came together at a conference to discuss some of the major challenges they face in prosecuting serious organised crime in the region and to explore ways of overcoming the changing manifestations of criminality. Barbados, OECS countries, Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas, Belize and the British Overseas Territories were all represented.

Conference delegates heard presentations from leading international experts in various areas of criminal law, including Eugene Otuonye QC, Head of Turks & Caicos Integrity Commission , Pam Bowen, Human Trafficking policy expert, UK Crown Prosecution Service, Kevin Rosen of Cyberforensics and Margaret O’Malley from the U.S. Department of Justice. Topics discussed included corruption, human trafficking and serious organised crime, cybercrime and the importance of international cooperation.

Criminal Justice Adviser to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Sirah Abraham, whose post is funded by the United States of America and the United Kingdom, jointly hosted the conference with the Criminal Justice Adviser to the British Overseas Territories.

Donna Babb-Agard QC, DPP from Barbados, praised the timeliness of the conference. She said, “At a time when transnational serious organised crime impacts every single country and territory, it is extremely important that prosecutors should work collaboratively. This conference has allowed us to establish excellent working relationships across the region.